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Alappuzha Tourism

This water locked district has emerged as one of the major tourist destination of the country and is famous for its unique backwaters. The entire district is endowed with immense natural beauty. The sandy strip of land with Arabian Sea to its west is woven by lagoons and an array of rivers, canals, and lakes ideal for boat cruise. The prominent rivers are Achankovil, Pamba and Manimala.The Vembanad lake covering an area of 204sq.km stretches from Alappuzha to Kochi and the Kayamkulam lake with an area of 59.57sq.km extends to both the districts of Alappuzha and Kollam, these lakes are widely used for the inland water transport of cargo and passengers in the region.It has been an important centre of Christianity, since 1st century, as it is said that the at Kothamanglam in Cherthala taluk, was one of the seven churches founded by St.Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.

Alappuzha has been an important trading and commercial centre since time immemorial. It is also a major centre of coir and carpet industry. The economy of the district is based on agriculture and marine products.

It is also referred as the “Venice of the East” and has emerged as a major tourist destination due to the amazing backwaters.Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboats, beaches, marine products and the coir industry.

Alappuzha Beach

The beautiful beach is popular among the locales as well as the visitors. The Vijaya Beach Park is an added attraction of the beach. The Sea view Park here has boating facilities and a swimming pool. There is also an old lighthouse.

The popular boat race is held on the second Saturday of August every year at the Vembanad lake and is the most important tourist event of Alappuzha.Boats sponsored by different villages compete fiercely in the competition.The highlight of this prestigious event is “Chundan Vallam”, the 130 feet long snake boats, with over 100 rowers, 4 helmsmen and 25cheer leaders, decorated with colorful silk umbrellas. Thousands of spectators from all over the world watch avidly from the banks. Tickets for the race are available on the day from numerous ticket stands on the way to the lake where race is held. The race is also held during the tourist season on the third day of the Great Elephant March in mid January, and is called as “Tourism Snake boat Race”.

Chettikulangra Bhagavathy Temple, Mavelikkara.

The shrine is known for Kettukazhcha festival, which attracts a large number of devotees. The festival is held in Feb/Mar. and colorful procession is taken out.

Edathua Church

This church dedicated to St.George is of special significance, as it is said that prayers and offerings here help in healing all kinds of mental disorders and other ailments. The annual feast held from 5th-7th May, attracts devotees from all parts of South India. The church is just 24kms from Alappuzha.

Karumadikuttan

The small village near Ambalapuzha is known for the black granite idol of Lord Buddha Known as Karmadi Kuttan.The idol dates back to 9th or 10th century.

Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple

It is dedicated to the Goddess Rajarajeswari.The nine day “Navrathri” festival celebrated twice a year is of special significance. Another important festival of the temple is “Thaipooyakavadi.Mullakkal temple is one of the most admired temples of Kerala housed at the city Alleppey. The temple is also known as Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple, and Mullakkal Bhagwati Temple. The temple is accessible for devotes from all castes and religions, which is a wonderful symbol of secularism in Kerala. Positioned on one of the main streets of Alleppey, “Mullakkal theruvu”, Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple is planned in old Kerala architectural style. Being surrounded by well-maintained wall and a beautiful pond inside, the premise has plenty of trees and jasmine plants. There are several stories related to the origin of the temple and its foundation. The idol placed on the shrine is of Durga Maa with four arms, popularly known as “Mullakkal Devi” aka “Mullakkal Amma”. Presently, the temple is run by Travancore Devaswom boards in Kerala.Mullakkal Bhagawathy temple is estimated to be 500 years old and there are various legend regarding its origin.

One says that the idol consecrated here was brought by the banished soldiers of the Thekkumkur Raja. They were supposed to have brought this idol and kept it in a jasmine Garden. The idol got permanently fixed at that spot and later a temple was built by the king Devanarayana of Chembagasery. Another story says that once that great king went to the Kodungallore Bhagawathy temple for worship and wanted to have the Bhagawathy in his town. That night, the goddess appeared in his dreams and told him that she would accompany him to his kingdom. When he reached Alappuzha, the king kept his Umbrella in the jasmine garden before taking rest. The umbrella got fixed there. Later, the astrologers who were brought in, found that the Goddess wished to stay there and hence the king built a temple for her at that spot. Another story tells about how during the raid of Kerala by Tippu Sultan, some Namboodiri Brahmins who ran away from Malabar along with the idol of Annapurneswari they were worshiping decided to consecrate the idol at this spot. The idol worshipped prior to 1961 in this temple was indeed that of Annapurneswari with a ladle in one hand and a pot in the other. Since the temple was built in a jasmine garden, she was known also as Mullakkal Bhagawthy. She was consecrated in the standing pose facing west. In 1961 when they were consecrating the golden flag staff for the Goddess, a mentally unstable person got inside the sanctum sanctorum and embraced the idol. Subsequently it was found that cracks had developed on the idol. A deva prasnam (getting divine opinion through astrology) which was conducted revealed that the Goddess wanted a new idol to be made and installed there. Therefore on 16th July 1962 a four feet tall Rajarajeswari idol was consecrated in the same place replacing the damaged one.

Apart from the main Goddess there are also small temples for Hanuman, Subramanya and Nagas (serpents) in the temple. An idol of Lord Krishna and Lord Ayyappa has also been consecrated. Payasam, Vada, Appam are normally offered to the Goddess as Naivedyam. The story goes that on the first day when the Annapurneswari idol was consecrated, they had to make Vada using full urud gram with its black skin (instead of skinless white urud)which was received from a near by Brahmin’s family. Following that tradition, even today at the night pooja, this type of Vada is offered to the Goddess. From the first of Vruschiga month (October-November) a festival is celebrated for forty one days. The last eleven days is called as Chirappu festival and is a famous festival in these parts and is referred to as Alappuzha Chirappu. The first Sunday of December is celebrated in this temple as a women's festival. On that Day all functions of the temple are carried out by women only. Thousands of lamps are lit on that day evening by ladies coming from far and near. Navarathri (Dussera) is also celebrated in the temple. On Maha navami day 150 girl children are given new cloths and are worshipped as Kumaris. Theyattu is celebrated that day night. In this function a huge drawing of the Goddess is made on the floor with colored powder, and this is slowly removed by dancing over it.

Krishnapuram Palace

The magnificent palace is situated 47kms.from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam.The palace is a master piece of Kerala architecture with gabled roofs, dormer windows and narrow corridors. A museum inside the palace, displays antique sculptures and paintings.

Kuttanad Region

The region is famous as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala” .It is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done below sea level. The boat trip to Changanacherry passes through this beautiful and fertile region.

Mannarsala

It is 32kms.from Alappuzha near Haripad and famous for the ancient temple of Sree Nagaraja, the king of Serpents.Piligrims from all over the country assembles here during the two day annual festival.

QST and R Block Kayal

These regions are famous for farming over reclaimed land from the backwaters. The area is protected by dikes built all around and reminds visitor of the famous dikes of Netherlands. A cruise along the canals here is a quite a memorable experience.

Pathiramanal

The verdant island located in the Vembanad Lake is the first island resort of the State. The island is accessible only by boat from Kumarakom and Muhamma.The island attracts rare migratory birds from various parts of the world